What to Do When Something Gets Stuck in the Nose

While there's no telling what your curious cutie might stick up there, there are safe ways to get these objects out without doing damage.

Pebbles. Dried peas. Raisins. Wads of tissues. There seems to be no end to what can get stuck in the nose of your curious little critter. The first sign of trouble? You may see some discharge or bleeding from the affected nostril — hours or even days after your tot got the object stuck in his nose. (Little kids are often fearful to fess up or simply forget about having put something in there.) While it’s almost never an emergency, you may ultimately need medical help to clear your toddler’s nostril.

Why things get stuck in the nose:

Believe it or not, your tot doesn’t put things in his nose to annoy you. It’s just that toddler tendency to conduct any type of experiment, whether it’s dropping a toy (or your cell phone) in the toilet (will it float?) to figuring out how to make Elmo pop back up on the computer. Sometimes your toddler will shove in some strange stuff when he discovers his nostrils make a great hiding place. And sometimes inserting small things in his nostrils is a mindless behavior (like hair twirling or nose picking). Occasionally hard bits of dried mucus can get stuck in your tot’s nose, too, especially if he forgets to blow it or doesn’t know how yet.

How to un-stick whatever's in your tot's nose:

Follow these simple steps to remove the object from your child's nose:

Withdraw the piece of food, toy or whatever’s stuck in there with flat (not sharp) tweezers — but only if you can see it.

If your toddler knows how to blow his nose, ask him to blow while you press on the unaffected nostril — this may dislodge the object. Sneezing has the same effect, but it’s hard to produce a sneeze on command.

Whatever you do, don’t try to stick your finger, a cotton swab, or anything else up the nasal passage in order to remove the object. You risk pushing it deeper into your child’s nose or even down his throat and into his lung.

When to call the doctor:

If you can’t see or remove the piece of food or toy yourself.

If your tot’s nose doesn’t stop discharging gunk or blood even after you’ve removed whatever was stuck there. (Or if a nosebleed lasts more than 15 to 20 minutes if the object is still in there.)

If you’re worried that you might not have gotten rid of whatever was in there (like the entire blueberry or tissue wad).

If you suspect your tot has shoved a small battery or other chemical-containing object in his nose. These can burn the nasal passages, and the doctor may advise you to go directly to the ER.

How to prevent future accidents:

Stay calm, or else your little one might try it again just to see your reaction. Give him some nose care tips, and explain that it’s not a good idea to put anything in his nose because we need our noses for breathing. Keep tiny things away from your toddler (they’re a choking hazard as well as a risk for getting stuck in the nose), and, of course, always keep an eye out when he’s eating or playing outside.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the Second Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.